Feel the burn on the Routeburn Track

The Routeburn Track weaves itself through the sprawling Mount Aspiring National Park, which lies just over a two hour drive from Queenstown. The park, a Word Heritage area and New Zealand's third largest national park, is riddled with amazing hikes of varying levels of difficulty and is home to nearly 60 species of birds and more than 400 species of moths and butterflies.

With its gentle inclines and great views, the Routeburn Track attracts visitors from all over the world who come to walk away from civilisation for a few days and immerse themselves in the jaw-dropping scenery New Zealand is so famous for. With an astonishing collection of mountains, rivers, glaciers and lakes, this is a great place to take a break from your self-drive holiday and leave the car behind for a few days.

There's a diverse range of scenery to take in, and over the course of the hike you'll cross forested valleys and hike alongside alpine lakes and cascading waterfalls, culminating in some breathtaking panoramas from the top of a high mountain pass.

A guided hike is a great way to walk the track as you’ll only have to carry a daypack with your lunch and jacket and in the evenings you’ll relax at comfortable lodges with delicious food and wine included!  If you’re not up to walking the entire 32km you can also do a section of the track as a day walk.

For those considering doing it independently, make sure you pack appropriately and check the weather forecast before leaving. For more up to date information be sure to consult the New Zealand Department of Conservation.